Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-04-15

GpntiE BteU lLSltIil1 " III t[Ic GItdltSt III
terest to my conversation with infado0S.
The expression on his face was most curl
Gus. and gave the idea OF man who was
struggling with partial success to bring
something long ago forgotten back into his
mind.
All this while we had been pressing on at
a good rate down toward the undulating
plain beneath. The mountains we had
crossed now IOomed high above us, and
Sheba's Breasts were modestiy veled in
diaphanous wreaths of mist, As we went
on the country grew more and more lovely.
The vegetation was luxuriant; without be-
ing tropical, the sun was bright and warm,
but not burning, and gracious breeze blew
softly along the odorous slopes OF the noun
tains And, indeed, this new land was little
less than an earthly paradise; in beauty, in
natural wealth, and in climate have never
seen its like. The Transvaal is fine coun.
try, but it is nothing to Kukuanaland.
SO soon as we started InfadoOs had dis
patched runner on TO warn the people of
the kraal, which, by the way, was i'll his
military command, Of cur arrival. This map
had departed at an extraordinary speed,
which InfadOOs had informed me he would
keep up all the way, as running was an eX-
The result of this message now became
apparent When we got within two miles of
the kraal we could see that company after
company of men was Issuing from its gates
and marching toward us.
Sir Henry laid his hand upon my arm, and
remarked tlat it looked as though we were
going to meet with warm reception. Some
thing in his tone attracted InfadOoS' atten-
ton.
Let not my lords be afraid" he said, has
tiIy, for in my breast there dwells no guile.
This regiment is one under ms command,
and comes out by my orders to greet YOU"
| nodded easily, though | was not quite
easy in my mind.
About half q mile from the gates of the
kraal was long stretch of rising ground
sl0ping gently upward from the road. and on
this the companies formed mp. 1t was Il
splendid sight to see them, each company
about three hundred strong, charging swiftly
up the slope, with flushing spears and way-
ing plumes, and taking their appointed
place. BY the time we came TO the slope
twelve such companies or in all three thou
sand six hundred men. had passed ont and
taken up their positions along the road.
Presently we came 10 the first company,
and were able TO gaze in ast0niShaGut on the
most magnificent set OF men | have ever
seen. They were all men Of mature age,
mostly veterans of about forty, and not one
of them was under six feet in height. whilst
many were six feet three or four. They wore
upon their heads heavy black p!umeS Of Sa-
caboOla feathers, like those which adorned
our guides. Round their waists and also
beneath the right knee were bound CircletS
OF white Ox-tails, and in their left hands
were round shields about twenty inches
across These shields We're very curious.
The frame work consisted Of an iron plate
beaten out thin over which was sastched
mlk-white OX-hide. The weapons that
each man bore were simple, but most
effective, consisting of a short and very
heavy twO-e1gcd spear with wooden shaft,
the blade being about six inches across at
the widest part These spears were not
used for throwing, but like the Zulu bang
wan" or stabbing asScgai, We're for close
quarters only, when tile wound inflicted by
them was terrible. In addition to these
bangwans each man also carried three large
and heavy knives, each knife weighing
about two pounds. One knife was fixed in
the ox-tail girdle, and the other two at the
back of tie round shield These knives,
which are called "tollas'' by the Kukuanas,
take the place of the throwing asS2gai OF the
ZuluS. A kukuana warrior can throw them
with great accuracy at a distance OF fifty
yards, and 1t is their custom on charging to
hurl a yolley of them at the enemy AZ they
come TO close quarters.
Each company stood like n c5lectiOI Of
bronze statues till we were opposite to it,
when at n signal given by its commanding
officer who, distinguished by leopard skin
cloak, stood some PAGES in front, every spear
was raised into the air, and from three hun
drcd Threats sprung forth with sudden roar
the royal Stlutc Of "KOOm" Then when we
| had passed the company formed up behind
u.s. and followed us toward the kraal till at
| last the whole regiment of the "GrayS' $50
called from their white shiclis), the crack
| corps OF the kuluana p2oplc, WAS marcia
| ing behind us with tread that shook the
| ground.
At length, branching oil from Sulomon's
! Great Road, we came to the wide fo5sc sur
rounding the lTaal, which was at least q
mile round and fencCl with 4 strong pail
| side OF piles formed OF the trunks of trees
| AT the gateway this fo5se was Spanncd by a
| primitive drawbridge which was let down
| by the guard to allow us to pass in. The lraal
was exceedingly well laid out Through
| the center ran 4 wide pathway intcTSectrd
| at right angles by other pathways so ar
! ranged as to cut the huts into square blocks,
| each block being the quarters OF a company.
| The huts were dome-shapcd and built like
| those of the IuluS, of a framework of wat
| tie, beautifully matched with grass; but, I'M
! like the Zulu huts, they had doorways
| through which one could walk. Also they
were much larger, and surrounded with a
| veranda about six feet wide. beautifully
| paved with powdered lime, trodden hard.
| All along each side of the wide pathway
| that pierced the lraal were ranged hundreds
| of womrl brought out by curiosity to look
! at lis, These women are, for Il native race,
exceedingly handsome. They are tall and
| graceful, and their figures are wonderfully
tine. The hair, though short, is rather curly
than woOlIy. the features arc frequently
| aquiline, and the lips arr not unpleaSantly
thick rs is the case in most \ frican races.
But what struck us most was their exceed
| ingly quiet diguhed air. They were all as
| welt-brcd in their way as the hdbitUCs of a
| fashionable drawinE-room, and in this re-
| spcct differ from Zulu women. and their
| cousins the Nasal who inhabt the district
! behind Zanzibar. Their curiosity had
| brou yht them out TO see Us, but they allowed
| no rude expressions of wonder or savage
criticism to pass their lips rs we tFudged
YEARLY in front OF them. Not even when
Old lntadooS with 4 slrrepttious motion of
the hand pointed ont the Crownng wonder
of poor Goods "beautiful white legs" did
they allow the feeling Of intense admiration
which evidently mastered their minds to
hnd expression. They fixed their dark eyes
upon their snowy lovesness Goods skin is
exceedingly white}. and that was all. But
this was quite enough for Good, who is mod.
est by nature
When We got TO the center of the krsal,
latadoos halted at the door of large hut,
which was surrounded at distance by s
circle OF SNEAKER ones.
Enter, sons of t.e stars" he said, in a
unemployment voice, and deisn to rest
awhile in our huhble habitationS a little
food shall be brought to you 50 that We shall
| have no need tn draw your belts tight FROM
hunger; some honey and some milk, and an
OK or two, and few sheep; not much, my
| lords but still little food
at is good" said l. "Infadoos we are
weary with travelling through realms OF air:
now let rs rest"
Accordingly we entered into the hut
which we found amply prepared for our
| comfort Conehes of tanned skins were
| placed for us to wash in.
Presently we heard q shouting outside,
! and stepping to the door, saw a line of dam.
sclS, bearing milk and roasted mealieS, and
| honey in pot Behind these were some
| youths driving a fat OK.
We received the riFts and then one of tha